U.S. patent number 4,813,570 [Application Number 07/163,705] was granted by the patent office on 1989-03-21 for container with removable lid.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Kold Plast A/S. Invention is credited to Eskild Pontoppidan.
United States Patent |
4,813,570 |
Pontoppidan |
March 21, 1989 |
Container with removable lid
Abstract
Disclosed is a container (1) is provided with a removable lid
(2). At the top of the side wall of the container there is provided
an outwardly projecting bead or bead portions (5, 5', 5") abutted
by the lid (2) the lid having a skirt (2a) with downwardly and/or
inwardly facing cams (10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17). The lid (2) is
relatively stiff, and the inside of the skirt (2a) has a concave
abutment surface (2a') near its lower edge portion, the abutment
surface being of a substantially spherical, conical or
superelliptical curvature and abutting the bead or bead portions
(5, 5', 5"). The side wall of the container is provided with a
support shoulder (7) beneath the bead or bead portions (5, 5', 5").
The cams are partially snap cams (10, 11, 12) mounted beneath the
abutment surface (2a') and adapted to catch the abutment surface
(2a') of the skirt when it abuts the bead or bead portions (5), and
partially one or more small fulcrum cams (16, 17) projecting
inwardly or downwardly seen from the lower edge portion of the
skirt (2a) and optionally extending along a considerable angle. The
fulcrum cams (16, 17) are of such a height (h) and are arranged
with respect to the snap cams (10, 11, 12) in such a way that they
allow at least one of the snap cams to be released from the snapped
engagement with the bead or the bead portions (5, 5', 5") when the
lid (2) is tilted around two of the fulcrum cams, while they are
made to abut the support shoulder (7).
Inventors: |
Pontoppidan; Eskild
(Copenhagen, DK) |
Assignee: |
Kold Plast A/S (Vordingborg,
DK)
|
Family
ID: |
8098305 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/163,705 |
Filed: |
February 12, 1988 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/788;
215/224 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
43/0212 (20130101); B65D 2543/00629 (20130101); B65D
2543/00092 (20130101); B65D 2543/00537 (20130101); B65D
2543/00296 (20130101); B65D 2543/00805 (20130101); B65D
2543/00916 (20130101); B65D 2543/00527 (20130101); B65D
2543/00694 (20130101); B65D 2543/0074 (20130101); B65D
2543/00574 (20130101); B65D 2543/00101 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
43/02 (20060101); B65D 041/16 (); B65D
041/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;220/306
;215/224,317,321 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1185985 |
|
Jan 1965 |
|
DE |
|
2178732 |
|
Feb 1987 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Hall; George T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Oblon, Fisher, Spivak, McClelland
& Maier
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent
of the United States is:
1. A container with a removable lid (2), said container having a
side wall at the top of which there is provided an outwardly
projecting bead means (5, 5', 5") abutted by the lid (2), said lid
having a skirt (2a) with downwardly and/or inwardly facing cams
(10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17) wherein the lid (2) is relatively stiff,
and the inside of the skirt (2a) has a concave abutment surface
(2a') near its lower edge portion, said abutment surface being of a
substantially spherical, conical or superelliptical curvature and
abutting the bead means (5, 5', 5"), the side wall of the container
is provided with a support shoulder (7) beneath the bead means (5,
5', 5"), the cams comprise snap cams (10, 11, 12) mounted beneath
the abutment surface (2a') and adapted to catch the abutment
surface (2a') of the skirt when it abuts the bead means (5), and
one or more small fulcrum cams (16, 17) projecting inwardly or
downwardly as seen from the lower edge portion of the skirt (2a),
said fulcrum cams (16, 17) being of such a height (h) and arranged
with respect to the snap cams (10, 11, 12) in such a way so as to
allow at least one of the snap cams to be released from snapped
engagement with the bead means (5, 5', 5") when the lid (2) is
tilted around two of said fulcrum cams, while being made to abut
the support shoulder (7).
2. A container as in claim 1, wherein the bead means (5, 5', 5") of
the side wall of the container are provided with a slightly curved,
upwardly-outwardly facing surface (5a).
3. A container as in claim 1, wherein the bead means (5) are
provided with a downwardly-outwardly facing, conical surface (25),
a peak of said conical surface facing downwards, and wherein each
snap cam (10, 11, 12) is provided with an inwardly facing ridge
(10a).
4. A container as in claim 1, wherein the bead means (5) are formed
by providing the side wall of the container with an outer, circular
groove (9, 9a, 9b) at a distance from the top.
5. A container as in claim 1, wherein the side wall of the
container is of uniform thickness, and the support shoulder (7) is
situated on an outward projection (27) circumferentially in
relationship to the container.
6. A container as in claim 1, wherein the skirt (2a) is of such a
length that a small gap (f) is provided between the lower edge
portion of the skirt and the support shoulder (7) and a further
small gap (i) is provided radially inside said edge when the
abutment surface (2a') of the skirt abuts the bead means (5).
7. A container as in claim 1, wherein the snap cams (10, 11, 12)
are arranged at approximately a 3 o'clock position, approximately a
7 o'clock position, and approximately an 11 o'clock position, while
the fulcrum cams (15, 16, 17) are arranged at approximately a 3
o'clock position, arpproximately a 6 o'clock position and
approximately a 12 o'clock position when the lid is viewed as a
clock.
8. A container as in claim 1, wherein the fulcrum cam (17) when in
approximately a 12 o'clock position is in an interval of from 10
o'clock to 1 o'clock and the fulcrum cam (16) in approximately 6
o'clock position is in an interval from 5 o'clock to 8 o'clock when
the lid is viewed as a clock.
9. A container as in claim 1, wherein the upper side of the lid (2)
has a mark (30) diametrically opposite the projecting snap cam (10)
at the opening of the lid.
10. A container as in claims 1 or 9, wherein the support shoulder
(7) is provided with at least two upwardly facing supplementary
fulcrum cams (46. 46).
11. A container as in claim 1 wherein the fulcrum cams (16, 17) are
positioned inside the lid above the abutment surface (2a').
12. A container as in claim 11, wherein the lid has an inner
enlargement serving as stop means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a container with a removable lid, said
container having a side wall at the top of which there is provided
an outwardly projecting bead or bead portions abutted by the lid,
said lid having a skirt with downwardly and/or inwardly facing
cams.
2. Discussion of the Background
In a known container with a removable lid the top of the side wall
of the container is provided with an outwardly facing, circular
bead against which bead the lid abuts, as the lid has a skirt, the
inside of said skirt being provided with cams facing radially
inwardly. These cams are, however, mounted rather high so that they
press against the bead from above when the lid covers the
container. A normal person wishing to open or close the known
container has difficulties doing so. A person with a handicapped
hand, for example caused by arthritis or the like, a person with
impaired vision or a blind person is unable to remove or replace
the known lid if the container is to be operated with one hand
only. When the lid is to be removed all cams slide too easily away
from the bead. The lid cannot be removed with all phases of the
operation being sufficiently under control.
In another known container with removable lid the top of the side
wall is provided with a circular, outwardly facing bead and the
skirt of the lid has a circular inwardly facing bead, the latter
being engageable beneath the bead of the container. This container
does not work quite satisfactorily for the above-mentioned group of
handicapped people as it is difficult or impossible to remove the
lid with a handicapped hand. The inwardly facing bead of the skirt
simply fastens the lid too well.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a container with
removable lid of the above type, enabling a person with a
handicapped hand, a person with impaired vision or a blind person
to remove the lid from the container at any time in a controlled
manner. The term "controlled manner" signifies that a user is able
to control the lid and/or container so that these do not suddenly
slip from the user's grasp during the removal of the lid.
If the container with a lid according to the invention the lid is
relatively stiff, and the inside of the skirt has a concave
abutment surface near its lower edge portion, said abutment surface
being of a substantially spherical, conical or superelliptical
curvature and abutting the bead or bead portions, and the side wall
of the container is provided with a support shoulder beneath the
bead or bead portions. The cams are partially snap cams mounted
beneath. the abutment surface and are adapted to catch the abutment
surface of the skirt when it abuts the bead or bead portions.
Partial portions, one or more small fulcrum cams project inwardly
or downwardly seen from the lower edge portion of the skirt and
optionally extend along a considerable angle, said fulcrum cams
being of such a height and arranged with respect to the snap cams
in such a way that they allow at least one of the snap cams to be
released from the snapped engagement with the bead or the bead
portions when the lid is tilted around two of said fulcrum cams,
while they are made to abut the support shoulder. As a result a
user is able to remove the lid from the container in a controlled
manner using only one hand and the force of his or her fingers.
This is due to the removal being performed by means of the user
first pressing the lid down with slight pressure so that two
substantially opposite fulcrum cams are made to abut the support
shoulder, whereupon the user presses a carpus against the edge of
the lid at a predetermined place. As a result the lid tilts around
the two fulcrum cams as a well-defined lever and the part of the
lid farthest away from the carpus is raised, as a snap cam is
released from its hold of the bead or bead portion. The stability
of the lid and the container during the opening is especially due
to the fact that during the opening of the container the user is
able to press one half of the lid against the support shoulder of
the container, while the other half of the lid is released with a
little click (as the mentioned snap cam is released from the bead
or bead portion). The abutment surface of the skirt slides over the
bead of the container while a snap cam is released.
The inventive bead or bead portions of the side wall of the
container are provided with a slightly curved, upwardly-outwardly
facing surface, preferably as part of a sphere, cone or
superellipsoid. Thus an especially tight seal between the skirt of
the lid and the container is obtained without running the risk of
the lid getting stuck during its removal.
Furthermore, the inventive bead or bead portions are provided with
a downwardly-outwardly facing, conical surface, the peak of said
cone facing downwards, and each snap cam is provided with an
inwardly facing ridge. As a result, the hold of the individual snap
cam beneath the bead or bead portion is very reliable thus keeping
the lid firmly on the container. The retaining force is, however,
not stronger than the pressure necessary to release a snap cam from
the bead or bead portion with a little clock when the lid is
exposed to such a pressure at a place opposite the snap cam.
Moreover, the inventive bead or bead portion are formed by
providing the side wall of the container with an outer, circular
groove at a distance from the top. As a result the container is of
a simple design and thus easy to manufacture.
According to the invention, the side wall of the container is of a
uniform thickness, and the support shoulder is situated on an
outward projection circumferential in relationship to the
container. This embodiment is especially suitable.
In another embodiment of the invention the skirt is of such a
length that a small gap is provided between the lower edge portion
of the skirt and the support shoulder and a further small gap is
provided radially inside said edge when the abutment surface of the
skirt abuts the bead or bead portions. As a result it is ensured
that the lid is stopped during the opening of the container, when
it has been turned at a suitable angle, since the skirt edge
farthest away from the snap cam released from the bead or bead
portion is made to abut against the support shoulder.
In a further embodiment of the invention the snap cams are arranged
at "around 3o'clock", "around 7 o'clock", and "around 11 o'clock"
while the fulcrum cams are arranged at "around 3 o'clock", "around
6 o'clock" and "around 12 o'clock", the lid representing the face
of a clock. These positions of the snap cams and fulcrum cams
ensure an especially reliable removal of the lid.
The inventive fulcrum cam in position "around 12 o'clock" is in the
interval "10 o'clock" to "1 o'clock" and the inventive fulcrum cam
in position "around 6 o'clock" is in the interval "5 o'clock" to 8
o'clock". These positions are especially suitable.
In another embodiment of the invention the upper side of the lid
has a mark, preferably a slight, easily visible of perceptible
depression, diametrically opposite the projecting snap cam at the
opening of the lid. Thus, when touching the lid the user is readily
able to detect where to press with one hand if he or she wishes to
remove the lid.
In yet another embodiment of the inventive container the fulcrum
cams on the skirt of the lid are replaced by at least two upwardly
facing supplementary fulcrum cams on the support shoulder. Thus a
very reliable removal of the lid is also ensured, where the user
knows to be in control of the lid at any given time, especially
with regard to the tilting movement of the lid when the lid tilts
around the two supplementary fulcrum cams.
In yet a further embodiment of the inventive container the support
shoulder is avoided, and the fulcrum cams are positioned inside the
lid above the abutment surface. This enables the lid to be removed
"slidingly", as the lid is able to slide down the bead or bead
portions when the user has forced a snap cam to be released from
the bead or bead portion with one hand. Simultaneously the lid is
rotated around substantially diametrically opposed, moving
fulcrums.
According to the invention the lid has an inner enlargement, such
as a rib, serving as a stop means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the
attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same
becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed
description when considered in connection with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the inventive
container with a removable lid,
FIG. 2 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1
FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line III--III of FIG. 2,
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the lid of FIG. 3,
FIG. 5 is an external view of the container and lid of FIG. 3 (one
part, however, being a sectional view) with the lid tilted so far
that a snap cam is released from the bead of the container,
FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the upper part of the side
wall of the container as well as part of the skirt of the lid, with
the upwardly-outwardly facing surface of the bead on the side wall
of the container as well as the groove below the bead and the
support shoulder clearly visible.
FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the part of the skirt of the lid of
FIG. 6,
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the upper part of the side wall
of the container with the circumferential groove having a slightly
different shape,
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the upper part of the side wall
of the container, said groove again having a different shape,
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a container with a removable lid,
both being of substantially superelliptical cross-section, and the
support shoulder of the container being provided with supplementary
fulcrum cams,
FIG. 11 is a cross-section along line XI--XI of FIG. 10 with the
lid in place,
FIGS. 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d are a side view with lid in place, a
cross-sectional view, a top view and a side view turned 45.degree.
respectively of the container of FIG. 11; wherein in FIG. 12d the
lid is tilted,
FIGS. 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d and 13e are a side view, a cross-sectional
view with the lid in place, a cross-sectional view with the lid
tilted and a top view respectively of a container with a removable
lid, wherein the support shoulder of the upper part of the side
wall of the container is avoided, as well as a bottom view of the
lid,
FIG. 14 is an enlarged, detailed view of the cross-sectional view
of FIG. 13b,
FIGS. 15a, 15b, 15c and 15d are a side view, a cross-sectional
sectional view with the lid in place, a cross-sectional view with
the lid tilting around the fulcrum cams and a cross-sectional view
with the lid tilted such that the fulcrum cams are released from
the support shoulder respectively of the container with the
removable lid of FIGS. 1-5.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 illustrates a container 1 provided with a removable lid 2.
The top of the container has an outwardly facing bead 5, while the
lid has a skirt 2a provided with several inwardly facing cams
further described below, cf. FIG. 3.
The lid 2 is comparatively stiff and the inside of the skirt 2a of
said lid 2 is provided with a concave abutment surface 2a' near its
lower edge portion, said abutment surface being of a substantially
spherical, conical or superelliptical curvature and abutting the
bead 5. The cams include snap cams 10, 11, 12, cf. FIG. 4, mounted
beneath the abutment surface 2a' of the skirt 2a. When the abutment
surface 2a' of the skirt abuts the bead 5 the snap cams catch hold
of said bead.
Furthermore the cams include cam 15 and fulcrum cams 16 and 17, cf.
FIGS. 4 and 5, projecting down from the lower edge portion of the
skirt. Optionally they extend along a considerable angle u, cf.
FIG. 4. If necessary, u may be up to 180.degree., optionally so
that the fulcrum cams form a continuous, downwardly projecting
edge. The fulcrum cams are of such a height h and thus of such a
small distance from the support shoulder 7 that a user is easily
able to create a suitably large torque around the line L of the
fulcrum cams when the hand of the user excerts a slight pressure
against the lid 2, for example as shown by reference number 30 in
FIG. 5.
Since the individual snap cam excerts only a small force for
retaining the lid on the container, the above torque makes the snap
cam--here snap cam 10--release the bead 5 of the container with a
clearly audible, little click. Simultaneously with the snap cam 10
being released from the bead 5, cf. FIG. 5, the part 2aa of the
skirt 2a of the lid opposite the snap cam 10 is made to abut the
support shoulder so that the user is able to notice that the lid
and the container have not lost contact when the lid is suddently
released at the snap cam 10. Such a loss of contact may result in
the parts of the container slipping from the user's grasp. At the
moment the snap cam 10 is released and during the period directly
afterwards the lid is "controlled" by the fulcrum cams 16 and 17 as
well as parts of the bead 5, since these parts abut the abutment
surface 2a'. Subsequent to rotating the lid around an angle v the
skirt edge 2aa is supported by the support shoulder 7, as mentioned
above. The individual cam may extend along a considerable angle u,
such as 15.degree.-25.degree., preferably about 20.degree., cf.
FIG. 4. The fulcrum cams 15, 16, and 17 are comparatively small (of
little height). Instead of projecting downwardly they project
radially inwardly and instead of abutting the support shoulder 7
they may abut the upper side of the bead of the container.
Owing to the reliable control of the lid during the removal of the
inventive container with a lid the especially suitable for people
with handicapped arms or hands, such as people suffering from
arthritis. An arthritic user unable to move his or her wrist is
able to remove the lid by placing the forearm on it, slightly
tilting the forearm and simultaneously excerting a vertical
pressure P on the place 30, cf. FIG. 5. People with impaired vision
on blind people also profit from the inventive container, since
they are no longer required to fumble with the lid in order to
remove it.
As shown in FIG. 6 the bead may have an upwardly-outwardly facing
surface 5a, preferably curved as part of a sphere, cone or
superellipsoid. The curvature of FIG. 6 is spherical with a radius
R, and the center of the curvature is on the axis of the
container.
The bead 5 may be provided with a downwardly-outwardly facing
conical surface 25, the peak of said cone facing downwards. Each
snap cam may be provided with a well-defined ridge 10a, helping to
ensure that the sap cam is released from the bead 5 with a little
click when the lid is tilted, cf. FIG. 7.
The bead is formed by providing the side wall of the container with
an outer, circular groove 9 at a distance from its upper edge, cf.
FIG. 6. This groove may also have other shapes, shown for example
at 9a, 9b or 9c in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 respectively.
As shown in FIGS. 6, 8, 9 and 10, the support shoulder 7 may be
situated on an outward projection 27 circumferential in relation to
the container.
The skirt of the lid is of such a height that a small gap f is
provided between the lower edge portion of the skirt and the
support shoulder 7 and a further little gap is provided radially
inside said edge, cf. left side of FIG. 3.
FIG. 4 shows how the snap cams 10, 11 and 12 are arranged, the lid
representing the face of a clock, i.e. they are positioned at
"around 3 o'clock", "around 7 o'clock", and "around 11 o'clock"
while the fulcrum cams 15, 16 and 17 are positioned at "around 3
o'clock", "around 6 o'clock" and "around 12 o'clock". In a
preferred embodiment the fulcrum cam 17 in position "around 12
o'clock" is in the interval "10 o'clock" to "1 o'clock" and the
fulcrum cam 16 in position "around 6 o'clock" is in the interval "5
o'clock" to "8 o'clock". The fulcrum cams 16 and 17 are, however,
arranged in such a way that only one snap cam is released in the
first phase of the removal of the lid.
At its edge or in the middle between two subsequent snap cams, cf.
FIGS. 2 and 4, the upper side of the lid 2 may be provided with a
mark 30, preferably in form of a slight, easily visible or
perceptible depression indicating where the lid has to be pressed
in order to remove it.
The container may be of a substantially superelliptical
cross-section, cf. FIGS. 10 and 12 a-d. Furthermore, the support
shoulder may be provided with two upwardly facing supplementary
cams, suggested in FIGS. 11 and 12d at 45 and 46. In this case the
downwardly facing fulcrum cams at the skirt of the lid mentioned
above may be avoided.
Instead of or supplementary to a continuous, circumferential bead 5
on the container 1, said container may be provided with several
separate bead portions 5', 5", such as shown in FIGS. 10 and
12d.
The lid of the container is suitably manufactured by injection
moulding.
Optionally the support shoulder of the container may also be
avoided. This is clearly shown in the embodiments of FIG. 13, cf.
especially 13b, and FIG. 14. The fulcrum cams 15, 16 and 17 are
arranged inside and directly above the abutment surface 2a' of the
skirt 2a, thus being able to use the upper edge of the container as
a support shoulder.
If the fulcrum cams 16 and 17 are arranged in position 5 "around 6
o'clock" and "around 12 o'clock" and the fulcum cam 15 is arranged
in position "3 o'clock", the inside of the skirt 2a of the lid is
provided with an enlargement at position "9 o'clock", such as a
stopping rib 51. During opening this rib is made to abut the upper
edge of the container, cf. FIG. 13c, when the lid is tilted around
the angle v. In this position the lid is loosely fixed above the
bead 5 of the container, thus ensuring that the user does not lose
his or her grasp of the lid and the container.
FIGS. 15a-d show the container of FIGS. 1-5 with a lid in greater
detail. In FIGS. 15a and 15d the lid is in place. In FIG. 15c one
snap cam is released, as the lid is tilted around the fulcrum cams.
In FIG. 15d the lid is lifted so much that the fulcrum cams are
released.
The container with a removable lid may be varied in many ways
without deviating from the scope of the invention.
* * * * *